SAFETY TIPS

Some colorants may temporarily stain skin, to minimize clean-up wear gloves when handling [unless you like green hands].

Some colorants may stain surfaces, protect surfaces before using.

Wear eye protection to prevent getting colorants in eyes. If exposed, wash the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids; continue for 15 minutes. If irritation develops, seek medical attention.

Though not classified as an irritant and no respiratory protection is required when using powdered colorants, you may want to wear a dust mask.

Colorants are for external use only, do not ingest. If ingested, consult your physician.

If spilled, surfaces may become slippery or sticky. Spills should be thoroughly flushed with soapy water until all apparent color is removed.

HINTS

If you are new at using colorants, it is a good idea to first test a colorant in a recipe to see what the final result will look like. Soaps with a natural yellow hue (for example, soaps that require avocado oil or wheatgerm oil) will lend yellow to the final color so if you use ultramarine blue, you will get green. Essential and fragrance oils may also affect the color of your soap. An easy way to test colorants is to put a scoop of traced scented soap from a batch in a Dixie cup and mix with a pigment to be tested.

Always start with less colorant than you feel you need for your project. You can always add more, but you can’t reduce the colorant once mixed in.

Powdered Pigments, Dyes, and Clays should be kept in closed containers at ambient temperature and humidity.

Again, less, less, less is best. That wonderful gift to your best friend won’t be so great if she turns orange in the bathtub.

Mix colors. For example, if you blend 1 part blue with 1 part green you get turquoise. Develop your own signature color!! Remember to keep a journal when you experiment; that perfect color isn’t any good if you can’t remember how you got it.

Create your own Melt & Pour Color Chips by using one tablespoon of colorant for ½ ounce of Melt & Pour Soapbase. Put melted soapbase in one cube section of an icecube tray, and add the colorant. Be sure to label the cube showing the color used. Continue with the same colorant, or fill each cube with a different color. When hardened, wrap the chip with plastic wrap until used.